The Scribe Winter/Spring Report 2017

DEER LAKES The Official Student-Achievement SCHOOL DISTRICT Biannual of the Deer Lakes School District Est. 1969 East Deer I Frazer I West Deer www.deerlakes.net CONTENT 03 Superintendent’s Message

05 Academic & Community News: Kinesthetic Learning Lab, Healthier Food Choices

06 Academic & Community News: Surprise Homecoming, NMSI Increasing AP Opportunities

07 Notable Achievements: Everhart, VanderSchaaff, McGrath, and Burke

08 Distinguished Alumni Awards Announces 2017 Honorees

09 Deer Lakes on Hometown High Q

10 Fine Arts at Deer Lakes

11 Deer Lakes Hosts Massive Statewide Conference

12 STEM Initiatives at Deer Lakes: Family Science Night, Science Olympiad, Camp Curtisville

13 Penn State New Kensington Offers Deer Lakes Math Students a Free Homework Hotline

14 Varsity Sports Report: Fall and Winter Sports

15 Marching Band Wins Back to Back PIMBA Championships

Individual Athlete Recognition

Deer Lakes Board of School Directors are (from left): Jodi L. Banyas-Galecki, Louis W. Buck, Lisa E. Merlo (Vice President), Gary W. Torick, Clara Salvi (President), William A. Lupone, Jr., and Leanna Shurina. James F. McCaskey, and Phillip Ziendarski are not pictured.

Most of the content seen within this magazine is the work of Deer Lakes Communications Specialist, James T. Cromie. If you have any questions or wish to offer feedback, please call 724-265-5300 Ext. 2131 or email [email protected]. DEER LAKES 02 www.deerlakes.net SCHOOL DISTRICT Message from the SUPERINTENDENT

Dear Friends,

Noted education author Chuck Schwahn writes, “Successful businesses view their products and services through the eyes of their customers …and design their organizational structure accordingly. Successful school systems view their learning opportunities through the eyes of learners…and design their instructional delivery system accordingly.”

As you may have seen in the media, or read about online, Deer Lakes School District has begun to develop a reputation in educational circles over the past few years for our innovative approach to education. We have managed to begin to make a name for ourselves because we have made a commitment as a school district to listen to our students and their parents, and we have married their concerns and suggestions with the most recent research on Mass Customization of Learning and put theory into practice.

We are now being recognized by other districts and education-affiliated organizations as “a district to watch.” Some of the programs catching the eye of our peers include: NMSI/AP, Primary Physical education/wellness, K-12 Language Arts Curriculum, STEM initiatives at all four district schools, and our K-12 after school coding program. We have also received accolades for our newly redesigned website and several technology-related initiatives.

We are very excited about what is happening here and we are thrilled to be able to share some of those stories with you in the pages of this publication.

Though we are proud of the progress we have made, we also realize that there is still much work to be done. With that in mind, Deer Lakes School District is continuing its efforts to provide 21st century learning skills through enhanced instructional practices and by embedding technology into the curriculum. Our goal is to continue to meet with students, parents, universities and local and regional businesses to build future focused educational opportunities for our students.

On a personal note, I am most grateful for the support of the school board, administrators, teachers, staff and most of all the community, as we all work closely together to continue to move this district forward.

JANELL LOGUE-BELDEN, ED.D Superintendent, Deer Lakes School District

DEER LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT www.deerlakes.net 03 Kinesthetic Learning Lab

DEER LAKES 04 www.deerlakes.net SCHOOL DISTRICT Academic & Community News From Around the Deer Lakes School District

Kinesthetic Learning Lab

Curtisville Primary Center recently began the Kinesthetic Learning Lab, an area in the school where students have the unique opportunity to explore their content area work while remaining physically active.

There are no desks or chairs in the “K-Lab” but there are plenty of balls, scooters, and hula hoops and the dynamic classroom is ever-changing to meet the needs of the students who use it. However, one constant is that it offers various stations for the children to use during class. One sub-group might throw balls at high frequency words on a blackboard, followed by pronouncing those words. Another group might be doing arithmetic while traversing a ladder lying on the floor; and another group might be doing a dance off or crunches based on simple math equations. Each student in the school has the opportunity to use the lab approximately once a week.

You might think that such radical multitasking would cause the students to lose focus. However, according to Curtisville Health and Physical Education teacher Ron Nichols, who conceived of the idea, just the opposite is true.

“Research shows your brain is much more stimulated once you get up and get active,” he said. “That’s where the educational system still has work to do. We just sit so much and our brain just goes numb. Sometimes we all need to get up and move around a bit just to reactivate our brains.”

The lab became a reality after Deer Lakes received grants totaling $3,500 from Action for Healthy Kids and Let’s Move Pittsburgh.

Menu Changes The Deer Lakes dining services team recently announced a series of new initiatives that are designed to give district students a greater number of healthy options that should help them flourish inside the classroom.

“When looking at our overall dining services program, our team was able to identify several areas where we felt we could improve our offerings to our students,” said first year director Joseph Beaman, who cited breakfast as one such opportunity. “We just want to make sure we are providing our students with more high protein, low sugar offerings.”

According to Beaman, studies have consistently shown that a good breakfast improves academic performance. For example, in a study of students in the Boston Public School System, participants who rarely ate breakfast (and that was over 60 percent of all participants) had a 40 percent greater risk of doing poorly in math and reading. Their math and reading scores were about 25 percent lower than the scores of students who regularly ate breakfast, and their grade point averages were also about 25 percent lower. Students who skip breakfast have also been shown to have more days absent from school and more days being tardy.

With that in mind, Deer Lakes’ elementary breakfast program now includes new items like cheesy eggs with toast and will no longer offer flavored milks during that essential first meal of the day.

Also, as part of the district’s continued commitment to whole fruits and vegetables, Deer Lakes is now offering fresh vegetables daily at all four of our schools and juice will be eliminated as a lunchtime fruit option at the elementary schools. The dining services team also plans to add ruby-red grapefruit and juicy oranges.

DEER LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT www.deerlakes.net 05 Academic & Community News From Around the Deer Lakes School District

Surprise Homecoming

Just before holiday break, during an assembly at Curtisville Primary Center, first-grader Levi Orris was asked by his teacher, Mrs. Sandi Hazlett, what he wanted for Christmas and he did not hesitate to answer.

“I want my mom to come home for Christmas,” he said. “I would be so happy.”

Orris had not seen his mom, a U.S. Army Reservist deployed at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, in six-months and was understandably missing her.

What young Levi could not possibly have known at the time was that Sgt. Brandi Orris was indeed already in town. In fact she was just feet away from him when he voiced his greatest wish. Sgt. Orris, her husband and Levi’s little brother had sneaked into the assembly and, upon hearing those words from her little boy, she immediately leapt out from behind a wall of teachers that had been sheltering her and gave the six year-old boy the best surprise of his young life. They hugged each other for several minutes during their emotional reunion.

Sgt. Orris will continue to serve her country from Fort Hood until later this summer. Hazlett, herself a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, helped orchestrate the entire surprise visit.

NMSI Increasing AP Opportunities

According to the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI), 162 Deer Lakes students enrolled in AP Math, Science, and English courses in 2015-2016 as compared to just 65 during the 2014-2015 school year. That represents a 149% increase in AP math, science and English course participation.

Even more strikingly, the district saw a 376% increase in AP math, science and English exams taken, rocketing to 162 exams taken in 2015-2016 from just 34 the year before.

The number of qualifying scores earned by students on math, science, and English AP exams was no less impressive, increasing from 24 to 61 for a 154% gain, which is more than 20 times the national average.

It should come as no surprise then that Deer Lakes added more AP courses this year including AP Physics I and AP Stats.

Also, last year Deer Lakes offered AP Physics, which it found to be better aligned with Physics II, according to the AP curriculum. To address that issue, Deer Lakes created a class designed to meet the needs of students who are interested in taking AP Physics but are not yet ready to take AP Physics II.

Next year, Deer Lakes High School plans to further increase its AP course offerings by adding AP Psychology, AP Computer Science Principles and AP US History.

DEER LAKES 06 www.deerlakes.net SCHOOL DISTRICT NotableAchievements From Around the Deer Lakes School District

CJ Everhart Fourth Grader, East Union Intermediate Center For the third consecutive year, CJ Everhart, a fourth grade student at East Union Intermediate Center has been named a first place winner in the PA Alliance for Geographic Education’s Geography Awareness Week Postcard Contest.

The theme of this year’s contest, which had more than 1,000 entries, was Explore the Power of Parks. Everhart’s submission focused on Yellowstone National Park because of his fondness for Old Faithful. It had a magnifying glass showing all the things you could do at Yellowstone including camping, hiking, kayaking and swimming.

The school board recently recognized East Union Intermediate Center teacher Jodi VanderSchaaff (nee Haynes) for her Jodi VanderSchaaff consistently outstanding efforts on behalf of the Deer Lakes Teacher, East Union Intermediate Center School District.

The West Deer native (DLHS, ‘99) and veteran teacher is well known for her incredible dedication to her students and her ability to organize and develop school-wide opportunities.

Nick McGrath Senior, Deer Lakes High School

Last summer, senior Nick McGrath participated in the Congress of Future Science and Tech- nology Leaders just outside of Boston.

The Congress is an annual honors-only program for high school students who are passionate about science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). The purpose of the three-day event is to honor, inspire, motivate and direct the top students in the country who aspire to be scientists and technologists, to stay true to their dream and, after the event, to provide a path, plan and resources to help them reach their goal.

Deer Lakes junior Sean Burke participated in the PMEA Sean Burke Region 1 Choir at Gateway High School in Monroeville. The Junior, Deer Lakes High School Russellton resident, who sings bass 2, was also selected to participate in District 1 Chorus at Montour High School.

Burke called being chosen to participate in the Region 1 Choir, “The honor of a lifetime.”

DEER LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT www.deerlakes.net 07 DistinguishedAlumni Deer Lakes recently announced its Distinguished Alumni Class of 2017. The newest members of this esteemed group are (from left:) Thomas DeMartini, Justin Fyala, Jackie Jaros, Karl Kennedy, Michael Stephan and Robert Tatrn. For tickets or for more information about the event email: [email protected] or call: 724-265-5300 Ext. 2131.

The Deer Lakes School District voice of the Community Days parade. Jackie Jaros, Deer Lakes HS, ‘88 Distinguished Alumni Hall of Honor He has also served as a director for both Jackie Jaros will recognize six graduates who have West Deer Township and Deer Lakes School has spent gained recognition for outstanding District. However, what people may not most of her accomplishments in their fields of know about him is he has also enjoyed life in the endeavor. two highly successful careers – first as a Deer Lakes teacher in the Mars Area School District for community, first The 2017 inductees are: Thomas as a student and 14 years; and later as a State Farm Agent, DeMartini (’67), Justin Fyala (’02), later teacher, where he served the Allegheny Valley for 29 Jackie Jaros (’88), Karl Kennedy (’66), and school years. Michael Stephan (‘66) and Robert counselor. As a school counselor, Tatrn (’57). Jaros has spearheaded many efforts Justin Fyala, Deer Lakes HS, ‘02 to make the middle school a more At just 32 years-old, The induction ceremony and banquet inclusive and bully-free environment, Justin Fyala is the will be held starting at 6 p.m. on May including co-authoring the district’s Executive Director of 5, 2017 at Deer Lakes High School. anti-bullying curriculum. Jaros is also the Gay Men’s Chorus extremely active at the state level of of Washington, D.C. Tickets to the event are $25 per student government and advises Deer Prior to that, Fyala led person and include dinner and the Lakes Middle School’s student council. the Windy City Gay induction ceremony. In 2015, after first being named the Chorus and Treble Pennsylvania and Mid-Atlantic Adviser Quire and the Youth of the year, Jaros was named Warren E. Thomas DeMartini, West Deer HS, ‘64 Choral Theater of Chicago, where he served Shull National Student Council Adviser Thomas DeMartini as President of the Chicago Fringe Festival of the Year at the National Association has spent his life Board of Directors. Fyala holds degrees of Student Councils (NASC) national leading others, from Penn State and Carnegie Mellon conference in Albuquerque, NM. This be it students, universities and he studied voice at the past November, Jaros helped lead businesses, University of North Texas. Prior to serving Deer Lakes’ hosting of the Pennsylvania organizations, at the executive level, Fyala has worked Association of Student Councils (PASC) communi- for the Pittsburgh Opera, Aspen Music statewide conference, which featured ties and even Festival, Bella Voce, Dallas Opera, John approximately 1,000 student delegates school districts. F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and advisers from all corners of the com- DeMartini is perhaps best known as American Institute of Musical Study and the monwealth. a long time local leader and the State College Centre for the Performing Arts.

DEER LAKES 08 www.deerlakes.net SCHOOL DISTRICT Karl Kennedy, West Deer HS, ‘66 Michael Stephan, West Deer HS, ‘66 Robert Tatrn, East Deer-Frazer HS, ‘57 The journey for Michael Stephan’s Robert Tatrn Karl Kennedy aviation career has broadcast has been began in 1968 more than 4,000 marked by as a helicopter sporting events his amazing pilot and Second during his persistence, Lieutenant distinguished problem- in the United 57-year radio States Army career, earning solving ability where he served him the nick- and faith. He name the “Voice has served as a teacher in the until 1972. As a soldier, Stephan of the Valley.” In addition to his work North Allegheny, Shaler Area, Deer earned a Distinguished Flying at the high school level, Tatrn has Lakes and Fox Chapel Area school Cross, two Bronze Stars and 31 called games for Pitt and Penn State districts. He also spent a quarter Air Medals. Forty-eight years, and has served as a researcher century working part-time as a 19,000 hours and six continents and writer for Notre Dame football programmer/analyst at Kopp Glass, later, Stephan’s aviation career is broadcasts. Tatrn has worked with Inc. However, his most remark- still going strong and has allowed national broadcasting icons like Keith him to circumnavigate the globe able achievements came outside Jackson, Ray Scott and Chris Schenkel three times and has taken him to of his professional life following and local legend, Bob Prince. In numerous countries – including the 1978 automobile accident that 2006, Tatrn launched a sports history Australia and New Zealand, where severely injured his wife. That website and has published more than he counts snorkeling on the Great left Kennedy to serve as his wife’s 2,000 stories, with roughly 600 or so Barrier Reef and visiting the primary care-giver and to raise their having appeared in books and other Tamaki Maori Village and geysers as two children, Elizabeth and Daniel. publications. Tatrn also cofounded being among his lifetime highlights. Kennedy was also elected for four the Alle-Kiski Valley Sports Hall of Stephan earned his undergraduate consecutive school board terms in Fame, which has inducted more degree from the University of the Mars Area School District and than 400 members in its nearly five Pittsburgh in 1989 and in 1993 he decades of existence. remains active in his local church as earned his MBA from Pitt’s pres- an ordained ruling elder. tigious Katz School of Business.

The Deer Lakes High School trio of HometownHighQ junior Rachael Meder and seniors Cam Pampena and Sam Smallwood took first place honors during the school’s recent performance on Westfield Insurance Hometown High Q, a popular academic television game show that airs on Saturday mornings on KDKA-TV at 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

Deer Lakes beat out Portersville Christian School and Sharpsville High School.

The Deer Lakes representatives were chosen for the team based on the results of a trivia contest put out by Gifted Support teacher Lisa Taliani.

DEER LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT www.deerlakes.net 09 Angela Saldamarco Shelby Hood Julie Stillwagon Dan Gray Hannah Runas Pink Grapefruit Poe Collage Argyle Decorative Vase Abstract Mug Set

FineArts From Around the Deer Lakes School District

Gall, Sappe Chosen for PMEA

Deer Lakes High School junior Alex Gall (violin) and sophomore Eleesa Sappe (viola) recently performed with the top area high school age musicians in the 2017 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 1 Senior High School Orchestra held at Moon Area High School.

Students from throughout Allegheny, Washington, Fayette, Westmoreland and Greene Counties vie for the coveted spots in the orchestra.

Art Students Honored

Deer Lakes High School seniors Dan Gray (Gold Key, Patterned Vase), Hannah Runas (Gold Key, Abstract Mug Set), Julie Stillwagon (Gold Key, Scalloped Vase; Honorable Mention, “Argyle”) and Shelby Hood (Gold Key, “Poe” Collage); and junior Angelina Saldamarco (Honorable Mention, “Pink Grapefruit”) were recently recognized for their artwork as part of the 2017 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards at La Roche College in McCandless.

More than 1,900 pieces were submitted this year by creative teens in grades seven through 12, the best of which were awarded a Gold Key, Silver Key or an Honorable Mention in 15 categories, including film and animation, sculpture, fashion design, photography, comic art and design.

High School to Perform Little Shop of Horrors

The Deer Lakes High School Drama department will present Little Shop of Horrors, April 20-22, 2017. All performances will take place at the high school auditorium at 7 p.m. Reserved seats are $8 and will be available closer to the show.

Director: Dr. Jennifer Mann Deer Lakes High School Presents: Musical Director: Mr. Matthew Derby Student Director: Mara Van Thiel Student Choreographers: Nathaniel Glaister and Megan Zaremski

Seymour: Clemente Runas Audrey: Alexis Slavicek Mushnik: Rachael Meder Orin: Jacob Lavrich Audrey II Puppeteer: Megan Zaremski Audrey II Voice: Kendall Brown April 20, 21, 22 - 7 PM Deer Lakes High School Auditorium The Ronnettes: Gracie Crim, Tiffany Feil, Kamilah Graham, Reserved Seats: $8 Helen Kanaitis, Brianna McAfee, Hannah Runas, Caitlyn Smith

In November, the Drama club presented The Tragicomedy of Julia Caesar, a modernized comedy about a group of eccentric misfits trying to perform William Shakespeare’sJulius Caesar.

DEER LAKES 10 www.deerlakes.net SCHOOL DISTRICT PASC State Conference a Rousing Success

In November, Deer Lakes hosted motivational speakers as well as activities and $17,000 for Team Tassy, a humanitarian the 80th Annual Pennsylvania workshops that were designed to help cultivate organization founded by Pittsburgh Association of Student Councils leadership and foster relationships between the native and former Survivor: Palau (PASC) State Conference. student-delegates. contestant Ian Rosenberger and whose mission is to help feed, clothe and train The annual state leadership conference Planning for the massive event, which is done workers in third world countries to have is the largest student-run event in almost exclusively by students, began nearly “dignified jobs.” Pennsylvania and among the largest two years ago and included everything from such events in the country. This event registration, booking speakers and The PASC operates under the mission of year’s conference was called facility rentals, to arranging entertainment developing young leaders and assisting “Decades of Leadership: Past. and transportation as well as working with their advisers so students, in turn, will Present. Future.” area hotels to accommodate the influx of out of work to improve themselves, their town guests. schools and their communities. Some Approximately 1,000 student- of the ways the state association works delegates and their adult advisers One of the hallmarks of the state conference toward that is through scholarships, from secondary schools throughout is for the host school to choose a charity that networking opportunities and bringing the commonwealth descended on becomes the beneficiary of monies that are those young leaders and their mentors the high school for the three-day raised by the host school and member schools. together through conferences, held at event, which featured a series of This year’s state conference raised more than district and statewide levels.

This year’s PASC State Conference featured national speakers, student entertainers and even a food truck caravan to give the arriving delegates a taste of Pittsburgh.

DEER LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT www.deerlakes.net 11 Science, Technology, Engineering & Math

Deer Lakes is offering a number of programs at all levels of the district focused on improving the district’s STEM course offerings and curriculum

Deer Lakes School District Night for students in grades K-5 and their elementary students of all abilities. has long been committed families. Deer Lakes is one of more than 15,000 to its Science, Technology, schools in 48 states nationally that Engineering and Mathematics The event, which has been made possible participate in the program each year. The (STEM) education. However, this through grants from the Carnegie Science goals of the Olympiad are to improve year the district has undertaken Center, Remake Learning Days Network and the quality of science education, create several additional measures and LPEP, will feature Chemistry Stations run by a passion for learning science and entered into some new partnerships teachers as well as other fun activities and provide recognition for outstanding that will further strengthen STEM science surprises. achievements and performance for education at Deer Lakes. students. Science Olympiad The school year started off with In May, East Union Intermediate Center Third grade teacher Mrs. Shelly the two-day STEM immersion will host its first ever Science Olympiad, a Znosko has been working on the program with ASSET Science in building-wide competition that promotes event for much of the past year and which 20 district teachers from student collaboration and allows them to is understandably excited to see the all academic areas as well as showcase everything they have learned in results of her hard work. “An event building administrators and parents various areas of science. of this size obviously takes a lot of completed a needs assessment time and cooperation to pull off,” said and defined a philosophy of what Students in grades three through five Znosko. “However, I’ve had a ton of constitutes STEM education at will work together in small mixed groups support throughout the building and Deer Lakes. to accomplish a variety of STEM-related from the district administration and I’m activities. The day-long competition will very excited to see our students show Also, in September, Deer Lakes feature seven different interesting, hands- off their STEM knowledge while also was one of 11 local school dis- on experiments and tasks and teachers will having a whole lot of fun.” tricts selected to participate in the score the groups based on the outcomes of Carnegie Science Center’s STEM their science activity. Students will rotate STEM Summer Camp for Kids Excellence Pathway Partners between activities throughout the day. Each In July, Curtisville Primary Center will program. The group of administrators student-team will have its own colors and the host three STEM summer day camps and teachers will work to share ideas students will have the opportunity to purchase in which students entering first or and identify resources to improve their competition T-shirts. second grades will have the opportunity STEM education. Membership in to learn about coding, garden science, the Pathway Partners program The winners will be announced at the end of cooking and more. also makes Deer Lakes eligible the day following a presentation by Dr. Larry for a number of STEM-related Kupchella, a science professor at Indiana Students may sign up for one, two, or grant opportunities. University of Pennsylvania. all three sessions if they’d like. The cost is $30 per four-day course. Family Science Night The Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh has On May 23, East Union Intermediate contributed $2,259 towards the program with Session 1: July 10-13; 9 a.m. to Noon Session 2: July 17-20; 9 a.m. to Noon Center will host a Family Science the goal of exciting, inspiring, challenging, and fostering the fun side of science for all Session 3: July 24-27; 9 a.m. to Noon

DEER LAKES 12 www.deerlakes.net SCHOOL DISTRICT Academic & Community News From Around the Deer Lakes School District

Laps for Learning The Deer Lakes School District Wellness Committee will hold the second annual “Laps for Learning” event on Saturday, April Science, Technology, Engineering & Math 29, 2017, from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Lancer Stadium. This free event is open to the entire Deer Lakes community and anyone who would like to get out and support a healthy cause and includes: fun-run laps every 15 minutes, activity challenge stations, fitness demonstrations, wellness exhibits and farmers market, the varsity cheerleaders, student council volunteers, raffle baskets, music, healthy snack concessions, and more.

Student fundraising for L4L2017 has already begin and the donations will support wellness initiatives across the district. If you would like to support these efforts, you are welcome to attend the event or send a check to Deer Lakes School District, care of Laps for Learning. Our address is noted on the back cover of this publication.

The event has been made possible in part due to grants from the Billion Mile Race as well as Action for Healthy Kids.

Homework Hotline Students at Deer Lakes middle and high schools who find themselves stumped by a math problem can now get the help they need simply by picking up the phone and calling the Penn State New Kensington Homework Hotline: 724- 334-6007.

After an initial eight-month test, the Penn State New Kensington’s Homework Hotline, geared toward students in grades 6-12, has been expanded to more districts as interest in the free service continues to grow.

The hotline is a Penn State initiative that had previously provided free math tutoring to students in the Burrell, Fox Chapel, Highlands, New Kensington-Arnold and Plum school districts. Beginning in December, Deer Lakes and a host of other schools, including Franklin Regional, Kiski Area, Leechburg, South Butler and Woodland Hills were added to the program. Science courses will be added as the program further expands.

Here’s how it works: Deer Lakes provides the Penn State New Kensington tutors with textbooks used by its students. A DL student can then call the number provided by the school district and a tutor will answer. The program is based off Penn State’s Berks and Schuylkill campus student math tutoring programs.

According to Colleen Smith, science, technology, engineering and math outreach coordinator at Penn State New Kensington, students give his or her first name and the tutor then asks what school they are calling from and what the textbook looks like.

The tutor, who is a Penn State New Kensington student, and the caller then go to the page where the math problem is located and solve it together. Mostly middle school students have used the helpline so far, and the typical call runs 15 minutes, Ms. Smith said.

The hotline program is designed by Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, an engineering, science and mathematics school in Terre Haute, Ind.

DEER LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT www.deerlakes.net 13 Playoff Qualifiers Five Deer Lakes varsity athletic teams including: girls volleyball, boys soccer, golf and girls and boys basketball each qualified for the WPIAL playoffs this year

Clarion Five Deer Lakes varsity athletic teams last 24 section matches. qualified for the playoffs so far this Bound school year including fall sports, girls The Lancers were led by seniors Jiri volleyball, boys soccer and golf; as Banyas-Galecki and Connor Chirdon, who well as winter sports, girls and boys won the individual section championship. basketball. GIRLS BASKETBALL The Deer Lakes girls basketball team (7-5 GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Section 1 - 4A) finished tied for third in After breaking a 14-year postseason its section, qualifying for the 2017 WPIAL drought last year, the girls volleyball Girls Basketball Playoffs where it was team (6-6 Section 2 - 2A) followed that eventually ousted by Beaver Area High up with its second consecutive playoff School in the first round. berth this past fall. The girls team was The Lancers, led by super who were sophomore led by senior Anna Solomon, who led the middle hit- team in scoring ters Brooke at 11 points per Kopinski and Abigail Lisowski as well as game. Billy Palmiere comes from a football libero Caitlyn Reading. family. His older brothers, Brian and Solomon and senior Cassidy Chmura Vinnie played college football and he BOYS SOCCER (seven points per game) formed one of always hoped that he would one day The Deer Lakes boys soccer team (8-4 the top backcourts in the section. follow in their footsteps. Section 2 - 2A) enjoyed a fabulously However, a football scholarship was successful season, recording that BOYS BASKETBALL the furthest thing from his mind at program’s first postseason victory in The Deer Lakes boys basketball (6-6 the end of last season when doctors four years before eventually bowing out Section 1 - 4A) narrowly qualified for found six separate life-threatening to top-seeded South Park in the second the playoffs. blood clots in his lung. round of the WPIAL playoffs. The Lancers were led by seniors Noah After treating the condition very The Lancers were led by seniors Cam Darsie and Alex Nichols, who averaged 12.2 carefully, Palmiere was deemed Sharkins, Mark Heim, Jake Potter and and 11.8 points per game respectively. healthy enough to play his senior All-WPIAL selection Chad Zubik. season and on February 1, the all- The up and down season was punctuated conference offensive and defensive lineman signed a national letter GOLF by their win at Freeport to end the regular of intent to play college football at The Deer Lakes golf team (11-1 Section season which cost the Yellowjackets a Clarion University. 3 - 2A) is on quite a roll, winning 23 of its share of the conference title.

DEER LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT 14 www.deerlakes.net Back2 Back PIMBAChamps

On a beautiful and clear Western years at Deer Lakes,” said Snyder. accomplished before and it serves as Pennsylvania fall evening, the Deer “They’ve worked incredibly hard since validation of all of the hard work these Lakes Marching Band pulled off a near the summertime and have sacrificed students have put in and where we perfect performance to claim its second a lot to get to this level. are as a program.” consecutive Class AA championship at the 21st Annual Pennsylvania Inter- “They are very deserving of this In each class, participating bands scholastic Marching Band Association’s honor.” received championship plaques with an Championships held in October at additional awards plate presented to Moon Area High School. According to Snyder, the marching the bands receiving the highest score in band scored well at every event they Music, Visual and General Effect. Led by drum major Brendan Bridge, performed in this year so he wasn’t the band’s performance was a tribute surprised by the result. As first place winners, Deer Lakes to the James Bond films and was also received championship medals. titled “MI6: The 007 Archives.” “We have consistently been at the top of our classification in every competi- The other first place winners at this Band Director, Christopher Snyder tion we have entered this year,” said year’s PIMBA competition were: was understandably proud of his Snyder. “However, to win the PIMBA Leechburg (Class A), Gateway (Class group’s achievement. “This may championship for two years in a row AAA), and Norwin (Class AAAA). be the best group I’ve had in my 11 is something this program has never

IndividualRecognition Chirdon

Girls Soccer Shines Sydney Rusek, Sr. MF: First Team All-Section 2, Class 2A

Boys Soccer Chad Zubik, Sr., MF: First Team All-WPIAL Class 2A The Deer Lakes varsity golf team went Cam Sharkins, Sr., MF: First Team All-Section 2, Class 2A undefeated in section play for the second Mark Heim, Sr., F: First Team All-Section 2, Class 2A consecutive year. Jake Potter, Sr.; MF: First Team All-Section 2, Class 2A Senior Connor Chirdon led the way, capturing the individual section championship with a 2-over 74 at the sectional championships held Football at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Gibsonia. Billy Palmiere, Sr., OL/DL: First Team All-Section 3A Allegheny Conference (both ways) During the 2014 section championships at * The Winter sports honors have not yet been released at the time of publication. the Shannopin Country Club in Ben Avon Heights, Chirdon scored a hole-in-one. DEER LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT www.deerlakes.net 15 DEER LAKES SCHOOL DISTRICT Non-Profit U.S. Postage 19 East Union Road PAID Cheswick, PA 15024 Tarentum, PA Permit No. 1 724-265-5300

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